A project that has delivered both promise and pain to parts of St. Paul has reached the halfway point. Central Corridor Light Rail Transit (LRT) officials say the 11-mile project that will link Minneapolis and St. Paul via Washington and University avenues is 50 percent complete and on schedule to be 75 percent completed by year's end. Service is slated to begin in 2014.

The University Avenue Betterment Association says the city isn't doing enough to help them with their struggling businesses -- trapped in the middle of the construction. St. Paul officials say they'll review their programs to help those merchants next month.

Three miles of University Avenue in St. Paul have been partially closed while construction continues on the Central Corridor light-rail transit project. Officials say the section will reopen Wednesday, meeting a Nov. 30 deadline.

The Metropolitan Council presented Wednesday the new light rail train that will travel the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit line, or the "Green Line," in 2014. Although no official opening date has been set, there are hopes of beginning service by July 15, 2014 for the MLB All Star Game at Target Field.

Artists up and down the Central Corridor fear their thriving community could be displaced as landlords raise rents or redevelop as the light-rail train line dramatically alters the area. But city officials say the train could bring a much-needed shot of energy to University Avenue and benefit artists by bringing them more customers.